2017 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid review: Best of both worlds

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The Pacifica minivan is the best car the “C” arm of FCA has going for it, by a long shot, and this hybrid version, with 84 mpge and 33 miles of range on electricity alone is top of the bunch.

The Hybrid Premium starts at $43K, the Platinum is $46,000 and our tester rang up at $47,885. It is the best minivan on the planet, but that feels like luxury nameplate money. Then again, the top Honda Odyssey starts at $45,000, so maybe this is just minivan money now?

I drove the Pacifica home, about 20 miles, and used about half of the battery. The engine didn’t kick on very much, but it was louder than expected when it did. I didn’t feel any vibration though — it’s super smooth. It’s quick off the line like most electric cars, and if you floor it the engine does come on to boost things, but it switches back once you hit cruising speed.

Bumps and rough roads make a little more noise in the cabin than expected, but again, bounce was minimal; it could simply sound louder because there’s no engine noise to cover it up. The steering has a hefty weight and reactions are sharper than expected. It’s a minivan that’s almost fun to drive.

Mrs. Road Test Editor will be in the market for a minivan in a few years, and the Pacifica Hybrid will definitely be on the list of test drives.

–Jake Lingeman, road test editor

OTHER VOICES: One advantage in being late to the game — Fiat Chrysler has offered very little in the way of hybrids and EVs up to now — is that you can learn from the mistakes of others. Chrysler engineers have been paying attention, and in the Pacifica Hybrid they’ve created the best family vehicle I’ve ever driven.

High praise, so let me qualify, or do a “level set” as the folks in your marketing department might say: I’ve been a Pacifica fan since the model first launched, and subsequent experiences have done nothing to diminish my fondness for this brilliantly thought out people mover. That said, when I heard a plug-in hybrid version was coming, I kind of figured it’d be a compromised afterthought to satisfy CAFE regulations or snag HOV lane stickers.

Nothing could be further from the truth. The Pacifica hybrid is as good a hybrid/ev as the regular Pacifica is a minivan — best-in-class. Driving on battery power alone, it’s an enormous, comfortable golf cart with plenty of power for freeway passing and stoplight drags. The biggest surprise comes when the batteries are down to 0 percent and the van switches to normal hybrid mode: The word ‘seamless’ is bandied about a lot, but the Pacifica’s handoff between electric motor and gas engine is invisible, and finally delivers on hybrid technology’s promise. There’s also still a lot of electric operation available even with the battery depleted, and the van alternates drive modes as the situation allows with nary a shudder.

It’s worth mentioning too how gorgeous a cabin the Pacifica presents — our tester had contrast piping on the seats plus French stitching on the dash, but even if you opt for a lower-spec Pacifica the ergonomics, interior amenities and storage space quickly show how compromised all those “crossovers” and SUVs are as family transportation: You simply can’t beat a minivan. The one thing buyers lose with the eHybrid is the Pacifica’s second-row stow-‘n-go seating wells. The space is occupied by batteries, so the middle row seats have to be removed from the van to make use of its full cargo space, though the tumble-folding third row is as easy to use as in a regular Pacifica.

It’s just a flawless execution, and an example of how bright our electrified automotive future can be. Before you wince at the price tag, compare everything you get with the Pacifica eHybrid Platinum, including the convenience and cargo room, AND don’t forget about available state and federal rebates…the final numbers might show it to be a bargain to boot.